Description
Object description
British civilian living in GB 1909-1945. Political activities: chair of Flintshire Constituency Labour Party, Wales 1934-1945; secretary of Buckley Local Labour Party, Wales 1934-1945; organising for General Election 1945. Steelworker and trade unionist, Shotton Steelworks, Wales 1930-1939; employed with other Welsh miners and steelworkers in Birmingham 1940-1945
Content description
R1 Family background, early political development, Burntwood and Buckley, Flintshire, 1909-1930: influence of Methodism, local poverty; attitude towards coal mining; recruitment to brickworks, ca 1927; opinion of Daily Herald; recruitment to Labour Party, 1926; employment of father; reactions to dominance of Liberal Party. Question of reactions to unemployment, Flintshire, 1930s including attitudes towards strike action, workers' compensation schemes, closure of coal mines for steelworks, unemployment levels, benefit controls. Recollections of activities with Flintshire Constituency LP, 1920s-1930s: singing Cwm Rhondda Guide Me O'er Thou Great Jehovah at public meetings; R2: Continues: recruitment, involving committee of Buckley Football Club; attitudes towards Communist Party, Liberal Party. Aspects of work as secretary of Citizen's Advice Bureau, Buckley, 1930s. Question of knowledge of international political developments, Buckley LLP, 1930s. Recollections of period at Shotton Steelworks, Flintshire, ca 1936-1942: membership of British Iron and Steel Confederation; opinion of management; setting up sick fund; impact of outbreak of war on steel works, 9/1939. Aspects of political activity as vice chair, Flintshire CLP, 1939-1945: meetings; restrictions implied by political truce; R3 Continues: attitudes towards Soviet Union, Churchill; levels of local political activity; question of precautions to protect LP identities. Recollections of period as steelworker, Birmingham, 1942-1945: reactions to disorganised labour at works including bringing in Transport And General Workers' Union; singing We'll Keep A Welcome On The Hillside at union meetings; R4 Continues: opinion of contribution of Welsh miners to political consciousness of war workers, Birmingham, 1942-1945. Aspects of Trades Council meeting with Bevan, Manchester, ca 1942 including political content, opinion of Bevan's policies. Aspects of civilian life, Birmingham, 1940-1945: rations; opinion of public morale; opinion of workers' war aims; reactions to Blitz, Birmingham, 1940-1941; opinion of provision for civilian population, shelter conditions, blackout, war work. R5: Preparing as agent for General Electon, Flintshire CLP, 1945; effects of affiliation of organisations to LP, 1945; canvassing services vote; question of campaign directives; reactions of employer to request for release as LP agent, ca 3/1945. Opinions of Labour government policies, 1945-1951, role of Christianity in LP, coalitionism, National Government, 1930s. R6 Question of reactions to atomic air attack on Japan, 8/1945. Political activities as agent, local elections, Buckley, 1946-1964: canvassing methods; campaign funding; results, 1946; postions held in local politics, 1946-1964: reactions to Labour election defeat, 1951. Personal optimism for prospects of Labour government, 1990s.